Faith and Patience
James 1:2-8
2 My brethren, count it all joy(Consider it pure joy) when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Wait a minute! Why should I consider any hardship PURE JOY? How is that possible?
· because you Know? v:3
The testing of your faith produces patience? Do you know?
Rom 5:3-4 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings(Pressures), because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
· testing : proving to see if something is of quality, is it good?
· First of all let´s make a difference between facing a trial and falling into one. Just like in the example of Jesus, we will all face temptation, but we do not have to fall into it.
· Zb.. a forest full of traps, we all have to cross the forest, but if we know that the traps are there, we can avoid them, we do not have to put our foot in a trap! Going into a test with all the answers is not a scary thing. Right?
Secondly because we know why we are crossing the forest, we are growing in the kingdom, we are doing the will of God, We have a great reward on the other side…
1. What is Temptation and where does temptation come from?
What is Temptation
TEMPTATION (to do Evil)
An enticement or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience. In this sense, God does not tempt man, nor can He Himself as the holy God be tempted <James 1:13> (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
TEMPTATION (to test or try out). (Temper steel?)
In the Old Testament, temptation can best be understood as testing or proving. The context is the covenant relation of mutual love and faithfulness between God and His people. The Lord tests to prove the true nature of faithfulness to Him. His purpose is not to induce His people to sin but to confirm their faith <James 1:2-4>. John 3:20-21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light(of God´s inspection), that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Zb.. use the example of testing new glasses. (in Russia banging on the glass)
1. To see if it is fit to drink out of.(one good, one with a hole in it)
Where does temptation come from
· God is not the Tempter
James 1:13-17
13 When tempted, no-one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;(with evil)
· The Devil is the Tempter
Matt 4:3
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (I Thess 3:5)
· People say “But it comes from God Because he allows it to happen!” We seem to go back and forth about the sovereignty of God. Does he control everything or not?
1. God leads, allows, and limits temtations.
· Leads to proving, but does not do the tempting! Matt.4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
· allows what you allow with evil temptations James 1:14 but each one is tempted (to do evil) when, by his own evil desire… (people that are filled are not tempted with food, fulfilled with substitutes)
· and limits what we ae not able to overcome! 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you(will be with you, will not leave you alone) to be tempted above that ye are able; but will(be) with(you in) the temptation also (he will be and )make a way to escape, that ye may be able (have the power) to bear it.
· What about the Lord´s Prayer? If God doesn´t tempt us with Evil, why do we have to ask God not to tempt us? If it is the good kind of temptation or proving, shouldn´t I be asking him to do it?
Matt 6:9-13
9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 You Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And You forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And You do not lead us into temptation, but You deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and Yours is the power and Yours is the glory forever. Amen. (NKJ)
I Believe that the Lord´s Prayer has been read wrong for years. Because it is read in a begging attitude instead of a confident I trust in my Father one.
· your faith : is what you have your faith, or the borrowed faith of someone else?
· produces patience : But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance
a) in the New Testament, the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his purpose and his loyalty to faith and holiness by even the greatest trials and sufferings